Predicted Arsenal line-up vs Crystal Palace, Madueke & Jesus start in eight changes
Arsenal host Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium tonight.
The Gunners have secured back-to-back wins in the Premier League against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton. They currently hold a slender two-point lead at the top of the table.
The focus will now shift to the League Cup tie against the Eagles.
Manager Mikel Arteta could make several changes to the line-up, particularly with two league games coming up against Brighton & Hove Albion and Aston Villa before the New Year.
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Line-up:
Kepa Arrizabalaga has been ever-present in goal for the Gunners in the Carabao Cup campaign. He has kept two clean sheets and will be eyeing another shut-out against Oliver Glasner’s side. The Spaniard is guaranteed to start ahead of compatriot David Raya.
Arteta does not have many options to rotate within the defence. In fact, Myles Lewis-Skelly was the only senior defensive backup in the squad versus Everton. The manager could play Christian Norgaard as a makeshift centre-back, but that may not happen given the fixture’s importance.
Jurrien Timber is set to continue at right-back with Ben White out injured. With Gabriel Magalhaes and Cristhian Mosquera on the sidelines, William Saliba and Piero Hincapie are expected to start in the heart of the defence. The only change could come at left-back with Myles Lewis-Skelly coming in for Riccardo Calafiori, whose workload has been managed throughout the season.
Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard could feature on the bench, in our view. Christian Norgaard could slot in as the defensive midfielder with Mikel Merino in the number eight role. Eberechi Eze did not play a single minute last weekend and could line up as the attacking midfielder. The 27-year-old scored the winner against his former club in the league with a brilliant strike earlier this campaign. Ethan Nwaneri is likely to feature off the bench against the Eagles.
There could be a complete overhaul of the attack too. Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres and Leandro Trossard will most likely be the front three against Brighton this weekend. Gabriel Martinelli is poised to feature on the left wing with Noni Madueke on the right. The latter netted a brace against Club Brugge in the Champions League, but has not played in the last two games. He should make the starting XI.
In his pre-match press conference, Arteta acknowledged that Gabriel Jesus is ready to start after three substitute appearances since his return from a long-term knee injury. The Brazilian has fond memories of facing Palace last December. He scored his maiden Gunners hat-trick in the Carabao Cup quarter-final at home against them before bagging a brace in a 5-1 league win at Selhurst Park. He should lead the line.
How Arsenal could line up vs Crystal Palace
Stats from Transfermarkt.com
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